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A German WW2 Luftschutz Air Protection 'Gladiator' Helmet

Excellent decal, interior liner, with its strap. Good original blue paint and winged Luftschutz and swastika symbol transfer decal. The Luftschutzwarndienst was a civilian organization that was tasked with alerting the population of air raid attacks and for providing safety in air raid shelters, and for assistance to the civilian population after an air raid. First instituted in 1933, the service was originally voluntary up until 1943, when it was made mandatory for all German civilians, including women. The members were expected to purchase their own helmets and gear as their contribution to the war effort. In their role, members were required to interpret various communication reports regarding bomber formations flying over Germany, operate search lights, observe bomber formations, help keep order among civilians affected by bombing raids, and to utilize air raid sirens before and after attacks.

Members of the Luftschutzwarndienst (Luftschutz) were typically volunteers assembled into area units within cities and towns that held the highest risk of being bombed. Many population centers were divided into area “blocks” with unit leaders assigned to each individual section of a city. Volunteer teams were expected to rotate shifts and sleep in large concrete bunkers that held all the provisions and amenities of a regular fortification. These also included the immense “flak towers” built around German cities upon which anti-aircraft batteries were stationed.

On 2 April 1943 Hermann Göring mandated compulsory service in the Luftschutz for all German civilians. For the first time this order included women. Members of the Luftschutz were expected to supply their own helmets as part of the contribution to the German war effort. A variety of helmets were available for 5 Reich Marks each, but many volunteers chose to scavenge captured helmets of Czech, Polish, Dutch, French, and Russian origin. Light average surface wear overall.

Code: 23337

375.00 GBP

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A Very Good German 1936 Polizei /SS Degan By Clemen & Jung,

One of the nicest condition examples we have seen. It would be most difficult to find a better looking example. Silver plated steel degan hilt, with black ribbed grip, bound with silver wire, and with it's original inset badge of the Third Reich German Police, and officer's extended pommel. Blade maker marked by Clemen & Jung, Solingen. The Police and the SS officers shared this common pattern of sword from 1936 onwards. Although a solely serving SS officer may have a sigrunen rune badged hilt to his sword, a Police or combined Police/SS officer may have the Police badged hilt. The Ordnungspolizei was separate from the SS and maintained a system of insignia and Orpo ranks. It was possible for policemen to be members of the SS but without active duties. Police generals who were members of the SS were referred to simultaneously by both rank titles during the war. For instance, a Generalleutnant in the Police who was also an SS member would be referred to as SS Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Polizei. In addition, those Orpo police generals that undertook the duties of both Senior SS and Police Leader (Höhere SS und Polizeiführer) gained equivalent Waffen-SS ranks in August 1944 when Himmler was appointed Chef der Ersatzheeres (Chief of Home Army), because they had authority over the prisoner-of-war camps in their area.

Heinrich Himmler's ultimate aim was to replace the regular police forces of Germany with a combined racial/state protection corps (Staatsschutzkorps) of pure SS units. Local law enforcement would be undertaken by the Allgemeine-SS with the Waffen-SS providing homeland-security and political-police functions. Historical analysis of the Third Reich has revealed that senior Orpo personnel knew of Himmler's plan and were opposed to it. Very good blade, good scabbard with no denting some paint wear. Very good bright hilt, with light natural age wear.

Code: 23336

1495.00 GBP

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A WW2 German Third Reich Cast Aluminium Alloy Wall Mounted Eagle Reichsadler, Made by APAG 1930'S

A Third Reich cast aluminium alloy wall or train eagle, wingspan 35" (89cm), the back marked “.GAL..Mg.si APAG” Manufacturer, with 3 threaded mounting bolt holes.GAL-Mg-Si (Gal=Galvanized Aluminum, Mg=Magnesium, Si=Silicon). APAG also made bunker periscope fixing mounts, amongst other alloy castings, for the Wehrmacht. During Nazi rule, a stylised eagle combined with the Nazi swastika was made the national emblem (Hoheitszeichen) by order of Adolf Hitler in 1935. Despite its medieval origin, the term "Reichsadler" in common English understanding is mostly associated with this specific Nazi-era version. The Nazi Party had used a very similar symbol for itself, called the Parteiadler ("Party's eagle"). These two insignia can be distinguished as the Reichsadler looks to its right shoulder whereas the Parteiadler looks to its left shoulder. The Third Reich, more commonly known as Nazi Germany [a name coined by Winston Churchill as an abbreviation of Hitler's 'National Socialism'] that described Hitler's regime from January 30 1933 to May 8 1945.

The regime began when Adolf Hitler rose to power and began his perilous rule as head of state (chancellor) on January 30 1933.

In a bid to champion the common man as Hitler often claimed, the Nazi Socialist revolution sought to establish a Volksgemeinschaft, a pure German peoples race.

Code: 23335

1395.00 GBP

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An Impressive and Stunning Presentation Grade Gold Inlaid Lefaucheux Revolver Made for a Luxury Gun Store in Buenos Ayres.

This is a very fine example of a very fine presentation quality, highly engraved and gold inlaid Lefaucheux double action, six shot large calibre pin fire revolver, circa 1860. With fixed front and rear sights. The barrel is marked in script "E PARIS CALLE RIVEDAVIA 20 BUENOS AYRES" in an etched and gold inlaid panel. On the side of the barrel it is stamped Lefaucheaux Pte.Brevete. The 12mm revolver features total coverage of intricate pure gold floral motifs most of which are flanked by a thick gold and silver wire inlay. The barrel, frame, cylinder, and grip strap have a blue patinated background. The revolver is finished with its original two-piece ivory grips featuring an engraved escutcheons around the screws and a lanyard ring on the butt.

Lovely condition for age with aged polish patination throughout. The cylinder and frame are fully engraved with finely hammered gold to match. The grip strap and trigger guard are with gold inlay throughout. The grips are good with a few hairlines and have taken on a pleasant mellow aged patina. This is without doubt the revolver for a gentleman of the highest possible status. This revolver uses a "pinfire" cartridge developed by Casimir Lefaucheux in 1823 from Paris. The then-innovative design called for the hammer to strike the pin from above, to which the pin would ignite the internal primer and powder, thus discharging the projectile ball. This action, in effect, closed the breech. Pinfire revolvers went on to see extensive use throughout Europe until being replaced by more centerfire-types. The Lefaucheux's cartridge became the first efficient self-contained cartridge

Code: 23334

4750.00 GBP

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A Rare World War I Turkish Officer's 'Enveriye' Gallantry Honour Dagger, The WW1 Turkish 'Ottoman' Equivalent of the British Victoria Cross

Awarded for gallantry to German and Turkish officers serving in the Gallipoli Campaign and the Ottoman warfare region against the British, Russians and Australians in WW1. The 8" blade is impressed on one side with the shahada Islamic decoration of faith, and on the other side with the tughra mark of Sultan Mehmed V, star and crescent, Arabic date 1334 (1918), serial number 2039, etc, the hilt and sheath embossed with brass panel pattern retaining traces of red background, the sheath with flat pierced bar for suspension which is also stamped with the serial number. Very good condition: The Enveriye dagger was an honour award for military gallantry bestowed by the Turkish War Minister Enver Pasha on deserving Turkish and German officers serving with the Turkish army between 1914 and 1918, and fewer than 5000 were ever awarded. In British terms it would be the equivalent to the George Cross Medal, in America the Silver Star Medal. The Middle-Eastern theatre of World War I saw action between 29 October 1914 and 30 October 1918. The combatants were, on one side, the Ottoman Empire (including Kurds and some Arab tribes), with some assistance from the other Central Powers; and on the other side, the British (with the help of some Jewish volunteers, Greeks, Assyrians and the majority of the Arabs), the Russians (with the help of Armenians) and the French from among the Allies of World War I. There were five main campaigns: the Sinai and Palestine Campaign, the Mesopotamian Campaign, the Caucasus Campaign, the Persian Campaign, and the Gallipoli Campaign. There were also several minor campaigns: the Senussi Campaign, Arab Campaign, and South Arabia Campaign. The Ottoman Empire joined the Central Powers through the secret Ottoman-German Alliance, which was signed on 2 August 1914. The main objective of the Ottoman Empire in the Caucasus was the recovery of its territories that had been lost during the Russo-Turkish War, 1877-78, in particular Artvin, Ardahan, Kars, and the port of Batum. Success in this region would force the Russians to divert troops from the Polish and Galician fronts.

German advisors with the Ottoman armies supported the campaign for this reason. From an economic perspective, the Ottoman, or rather German, strategic goal was to cut off Russian access to the hydrocarbon resources around the Caspian Sea.

Germany established an Intelligence Bureau for the East on the eve of World War I. The bureau was involved in intelligence-gathering and subversive missions to Persia and Egypt, and to Afghanistan, to dismantle the Anglo-Russian Entente. Ottoman War Minister Enver Pasha claimed that if the Russians could be beaten in the key cities of Persia, it could open the way to Azerbaijan, as well as the rest of the Middle East and the Caucasus.

If these nations were to be removed from Western influence, Enver envisioned a cooperation between these newly established Turkic states. Enver's project conflicted with European interests which played out as struggles between several key imperial powers. The Ottomans also threatened Britain's communications with India and the East via the Suez Canal. The Germans hoped to seize the Canal for the Central Powers, or at least to deny the Allies use of the vital shipping route.
We show in the gallery a picture of an officer wearing his [not included for information only]

Code: 20939

1895.00 GBP

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A Simply Beautiful 1860’s Cased Engraved Revolver

A Very Fine indeed, 6 shot 7mm Lefaucheux double action pinfire revolver, c 1865, number 73550, round barrel with octagonal breech 88mm (3½”), the breech bearing Lefaucheux “LF” mark, the barrel engraved “E.PARIS, CALLE RIVADAVIA 20, BUENOS AYRES”; Liege proved; the breech, cylinder and frame fabulously engraved with panels of foliage on a stippled ground; with folding trigger and plain ivory grips. Good working order and condition; in its close fitted blue velvet lined rosewood veneered case, the lid with brass escutcheon within a panel of double brass liners, the inside of the lid having gold blocked coats of arms, on luxurious royal blue velvet “E.PARIS PRIVILEGIADO”, and address, containing ebony handled turnscrew, brass mounted ebony cleaning rod, pewter oil bottle, compartment holding removable tray for 48 cartridges, and key to the case. Some marking to the velvet lining on the lid. Lid with rosewood surface hairline but we can restore. This revolver uses a "pinfire" cartridge developed by Casimir Lefaucheux in 1823 from Paris. The then-innovative design called for the hammer to strike the pin from above, to which the pin would ignite the internal primer and powder, thus discharging the projectile ball. This action, in effect, closed the breech. Pinfire revolvers went on to see extensive use throughout Europe until being replaced by more centerfire-types. The Lefaucheux's cartridge became the first efficient self-contained cartridge

Code: 23333

2950.00 GBP

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A Rare Burmese High Status Noble’s Silver Sword, With Silver Inlaid Blade

A 19th Century Burmese sword dha, curved, shallow fullered silver inlaid blade 26", slight swollen towards point, silver damascened for its full length on both sides, with a scene depicting seated warriors and sages, a dog chow, foliage and inscriptions, zig zag panel along the top edge, silver hilt, the central panels depicting figures of male and female deities, plain darkwood ball pommel, in its plain sheet copper- silver alloy panelled scabbard in eleven sections. Circa 1870. Callied a ‘story' dha, the whole sword is superbly decorated. A picture we show in the gallery of a Burmese prince with his similar sword dha on a stand before him. The blade decoration, with silver overlay on both sides, it is said, is sometimes believed to the horoscope of the Burmese nobleman for whom the dha was commissioned. This sword is a “story” dha, the silver onlay illustrate a popular folktale and Jataka legend, complete with vignette scenes of the highlights of the story, and accompanying captions in Burmese or Pali. The broad use and diffusion of the dha across Southeast Asia makes it difficult to attribute a definitive origin. The Burmese moved into Southeast Asia from the northwest (present day India), passing through Assam and Nagaland. The dha and its variants were possibly derived from the Naga dao, a broadsword used by the Naga people of northeast India for digging as well as killing. The Naga weapon was a thick, heavy, eighteen-inch long backsword with a bevel instead of a point, and this form of blade is found on some dha. Alternatively, the dha may have its origins with the Tai people who migrated to the area from present-day Yunnan Province in southern China. The Khmer and Mon peoples were well established before the arrival the Tai or the Burmese people; perhaps they invented the dha as 13th-century reliefs at Angkor depict the weapon. The history of the region includes many periods where one or the other of these groups dominated, bringing along their culture and weapons to conquered areas.

Similar terms exist in the surrounding area with slightly different meanings. The Chinese word dao (dou in Cantonese) means knife but can refer to any bladed weapon with only one edge. In Bengali, a dao is a six inch long knife. From the Himalayas, the dao spread to Southeast Asia where it came into its present shape. While it is pronounced dha in Burmese, among Khmer-speakers it is known as dao and it may be related to the Malay words pedang and sundang, meaning sword. A related term, dap, means a long-handled sword in Malay. In Thailand, the dha corresponds to the krabi but the equivalent Thai term is daab which is usually a stout double-edge sword. Other elaborate swords might have been made as presentation pieces perhaps to foreigners but the nature of the script on the blade suggests that this example may have been made for a very senior Burman or Shan aristocrat. Overall in scabbard 37.5 inches long, blade 26 inches long

Code: 23315

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Fabulous Brass Cannon Barrel Blunderbuss By T. Richards Circa 1800

A brass barrelled flintlock blunderbuss by Theops. Richards c 1800, 29¾” overall, 2 stage cannon barrel 14", signed in script and with pre 1813 proofs; plain signed stepped lock with safety bolt (incomplete), roller on frizzen spring, and old rounded swan neck cock; walnut fullstock with chequered wrist and brass mounts, including floral engraved butt plate tang and trigger guard with pineapple finial. Theophilus Richards, (fl.1790-1830) had shops in London and Birmingham was father of the celebrated Birmingham gunsmith William Westley Richards. It is typical of the British Naval blunderbuss and dates from circa 1790. This type of weapon fires a multitude of shot about .25 inch in diameter. John Rea is listed as working in London from 1782 to 1793. The Blunderbuss (born of the Dutch word "Donderbus", appropriately meaning "Thunder Pipe" or "Thunder Gun") came to prominence in the early part of the 18th Century (1701-1800) and was more akin to the modern day shotgun than a "long gun" musket or heavy pistol of the time. As such, she excelled in close-in fighting, be it within the confines of naval warfare or walled nature of the urban environment, where her spread of shot could inflict maximum damage to targets at close ranges. Its manageable size, coupled with its spread shot, ensured some level of accuracy for even the novice user and its appearance was rather intimidating to those unfortunate enough to be staring down the business end. As with modern firearms, the Blunderbuss also made for an excellent security-minded weapon and soon found popularity amongst all matter of operators - military, civilian and, of course, criminal parties - by the middle of the 1700s. Even George Washington championed the Blunderbuss for Continental Army "Dragoon" units of the burgeoning American military as opposed to the carbine this being nothing more than a full-featured long gun of lesser overall length, proving suitable for horse-mounted handling As with all our antique guns no license is required as they are all unrestricted antique collectables

Code: 23312

3250.00 GBP

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A Beautiful And Rare American Revolutionary War Period Large Boxlock Action Double Cannon Barrelled Flintlock Pistol Silver Scroll Inlaid Butt

So called Queen Anne style. A fascinating and most rare breech loading piece, with twin over and under turn-off cannon barrels, that is able to fire both barrels simultaneously, or, one after the other, using a unique sliding trigger guard that opens or covers one of the ignition pans as is required. 50 bore, double barrelled large over and under flintlock boxlock pistol, c1770,” the muzzles starred for a barrel key, with two separate pans beneath a single frizzen, the sliding cover of one pan operated by the sliding trigger guard, the frame retaining traces of etching, the rounded flat sided walnut butt inlaid with silver scrolls and wavy lines. World famous English gunsmith from London Durs Egg was renown for making incredibly similar rare twin cannon barrelled pistols, also with unusual covered pan actions. No proofs. Discussing with Howard Blackmore of the Tower Armouries some decades ago, the non-proved 18th century guns were often for the American export market where proofing was not required. Queen Anne pistols are characterized by the fact that the breech and the trigger plate are forged in one piece with the lock plate, foreshadowing by over 100 years the so-called "action" of a modern weapon. With the typical 'Queen Anne' pistol the barrel unscrews with a barrel key or wrench just ahead of the chamber where the powder and ball are placed when the pistol is loaded. The chamber is long and narrow with a cup at the top shaped to fit the bullet (a round lead ball). The user can quickly fill the chamber with black powder and put a bullet on top; the barrel is then replaced, sealing the bullet between its cup and the breech end of the barrel.

The bullet is larger than the barrel, so the breech is tapered to compress the ball as it moves forward at the moment of firing to tightly fit the bore. High gas pressure is developed behind the bullet before it is forced into the barrel, thus achieving considerably higher muzzle velocity and power than with a muzzle loader. The barrel was often rifled, which improves accuracy. The system also avoids the need for wadding or a ramrod during loading. It was not hugely successful as a military weapon at the time because in the heat of battle the separate barrel could be dropped during loading. The greatest popularity of the Queen Anne was as an effective self-defense weapon. They could be highly decorated with silver to suit the tastes of the very wealthy. But in the case of a double barrel they were especially popular, but most expensive, in fact considerably more than a pair of single barrelled versions.
The firing action functions on a single cock, wear overall to stock and steel as usual due to age. Pistol 10.5" long overall,

Code: 23317

3250.00 GBP

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A Most Rare 1796 Royal Artillery & Royal Horse Artillery Officer's Sword Of The Napoleonic Wars

A very rarely seen King George IIIrd Royal [Horse] Artillery officer’s 1796 pattern sword, blade 30" etched with trophies etc, brass hilt with Royal Artillery cannon engraved on both langets and with foliate designs etc. Beautifully engraved blade and overall is superb condition for its age, naturally it has all the usual signs of combat use, but superb none the less. The surviving number of early Napoleonic period regimentally marked British Royal [Horse] Artillery officer's swords are so few that the similar 1796 Light Dragoon and Light Infantry pattern swords outnumber them, likely 50 to 1. A collector could seek from decade to decade and never actually find another fine regimentally marked example. Used by officers of both Artillery and Horse Artillery. The regiment was involved in all major campaigns of the Napoleonic Wars; in 1804, naval artillery was transferred to the Royal Marine Artillery, while the Royal Irish Artillery lost its separate status in 1810 after the 1800 Union. This period also saw development of the Congreve rocket; based on an existing Indian design, these were the first solid-fuel projectiles used by the British army and two rocket troops were established in 1814. Their use in the War of 1812 is referenced in the line "rocket's red glare" which appears in the Star-Spangled Banner The Napoleonic Wars saw the need to provide fire-support for the cavalry so a formation of Horse Artillery was created in 1793 with two troops of Royal Horse Artillery (RHA) being raised, joined by two more in November 1793. The Royal Irish Artillery was absorbed into the Royal Artillery in 1801 to produce twelve RHA troops and a hundred RA companies in 10 battalions. Cannon [interestingly, the plural of cannon is cannon] were a vital part of warfare at the time of Waterloo, with the ability to rip through massed ranks of troops and inflict terrible casualties.

In 1780 Captain Thomas Blomfield RA was appointed Inspector of Artillery and Superintendent of the Royal Brass Foundry. Three years later he was given responsibility for re-organising the Ordnance Department. At the same time he was experimenting with new forms of ordnance. The resultant Blomfield guns had thicker breeches, thinner chases and a cascabel ring to control recoil, making them stronger without increasing their weight.

The Blomfield 9-pounder cannon was introduced to the Royal Artillery (RA) in 1805 as a response to the heavier French calibre guns. At Waterloo Wellington had 157 pieces but only 60 were 9-pdrs, in 12 batteries. The remaining 13 batteries had 6-pdrs and howitzers. Interestingly, the Dutch-Belgian and Brunswick Artillery, who fought alongside the British at Waterloo, used French cannon (known as An. XI Ordnance). Wellington employed his Royal Horse Artillery very effectively during the battle as a mobile reserve to plug holes in his line. For example, with Hougoumont under attack, Major Bull’s troop was brought forward in support from its original position towards the rear of the allied position.

The allied artillery faced 246 pieces in 34 French batteries. As was his usual tactic, Napoleon started the battle with a heavy artillery bombardment on the Allied line to soften up the enemy.

Cannon on both sides used round-shot that was lethal against columns of infantry, knocking down several men at once for as long as the ball continued to travel. Case shot or canister (tin coated iron cans) packed with smaller iron balls was devastating at close range. Only the British used spherical case (Shrapnel) where a shell was filled with small iron balls. A specially cut wooden fuse detonated a bursting charge.

The technology to produce cannon was an integral part of the Industrial Revolution. Other technological developments were the introduction of water-powered machines, the tin can, improved metal alloys, accurately bored cylinders for steam engines, and even ordnance survey maps. No scabbard

Code: 23319

1395.00 GBP

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